Spain to sue Catalan president for "disobedience and dishonesty"

MADRID, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Spain is to sue Catalan president
Artur Mas for "disobedience and dishonesty" after he defied a
court injunction not to hold a vote on secession, court sources
said on Wednesday, potentially barring him from running in
regional elections.

Mas and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy have said they
want to start a dialogue in the next days after two years of
acrimonious fighting over Catalonia's relationship with Spain.
Rajoy holds a news briefing at 1130 GMT on the matter.

On Tuesday, Mas proposed that they establish a permanent
dialogue over Catalan independence and measures to boost the
economy of the region, which accounts for about a fifth of
Spain's population and economic output.

Close to two million Catalans voted on Sunday in favour of
seceding from Spain in a symbolic vote following a legal block
by the central government against a more formal, albeit still
non-binding ballot.

While Rajoy has already said he would never agree on a legal
referendum on Catalonian independence, last week he suggested
Spain may reforming its constitution and give the autonomous
community more say over tax collection and spending.

The court sources said the complaint was being fine tuned
and was likely to be filed later on Wednesday or on Thursday.

The public prosecutor's case against Mas and his deputy
Joana Ortega may stand in the way of this political push as it
could eventually mean Mas is banned from running in the next
regional elections, due to be held late in 2016.
(Reporting by Julien Toyer; Editing by Louise Ireland)